This course focuses in particular on Chinese phonology by training pronunciation and tones. It is mainly formed of exercises to enhance listening comprehension and oral expression on the basis of course material used in the course Chinese I. The course is based on HSK level 1.

This is a comprehensive elementary course in standard Chinese (mandarin, putonghua). Students will learn basic features and the grammatical as well as tonal structure of Chinese, with an emphasis on practical vocabulary for everyday use.

The pinyin transliteration system will be used initially, but then simplified Chinese characters (jiantizi) is gradually introduced. 

The course includes many exercises as well as in-class exams, and students are expected to conduct extensive self-study. Class attendance is compulsory in the course.

How does China work? This an overview course of the main factors that influence contemporary Chinese society, politics and economy, with an emphasis on the changes following the implementation of the Open Door Policy in 1978. It is a journey through the major developments of China‘s recent economic history. Politics and changes in the top leadership of the State and the Party will be examined from the perspective of political economy and relations with neighbouring countries in Asia and the Pacific. Certain topics concerning China‘s development will be examined in individual lessons such as energy, environment, demography, arts and international relations. Furthermore,  the status of the family, human and gender rights will be examined. Hong Kong, Taiwan and Tibet will also be discussed. Clips from recent Chinese documentaries on various aspects of the transformation of Chinese society  will be screened. The course is taught in English.

This is a comprehensive elementary course in standard Chinese (mandarin, putonghua), continuing the course Chinese I. The approximate course level is HSK 2-3.

Students deepen their knowledge of Chinese grammar, expand their vocabulary, and consolidate their acquired knowledge of Chinese. Active use of the language will be emphasized and teaching will be increasingly conducted in Chinese instead of English. The course includes many exercises as well as in-class exams, and students are expected to conduct extensive self-study.

This course continues the phonological training of Chinese Language Usage I in terms of pronunciation and tones. It is mainly formed of exercises to enhance listening comprehension and oral expression on the basis of the course material used in the course Chinese II. The course is based on HSK level 2.

This course explores the history of China from the mythical Xia dynasty in the third millenium BCE to the beginning of the nineteenth century. It seeks to illuminate the most important factors in the formation of Chinese culture as well as to explain individual events in the political and social development of the Chinese nation. An overview will be provided of the origin and development of the most important Chinese religious and philosophical streams of thought, notably Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism. Influential individuals will be introduced. The interaction and mutual influence between non-Chinese groups and the Chinese nation in the course of history will be emphasised.

This course explores the history of China from the mythical Xia dynasty in the third millenium BCE to the beginning of the seventeenth century. It seeks to illuminate the most important factors in the formation of Chinese culture as well as to explain individual events in the political and social development of the Chinese nation. An overview will be provided of the origin and development of the most important Chinese religious and philosophical streams of thought, notably Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism. The interaction and mutual influence between non-Chinese groups and the Chinese nation in the course of history will be emphasised.

This is a comprehensive elementary course in standard Chinese (mandarin, putonghua), continuing the course Chinese II. The approximate course level is HSK 3-4.

Students deepen their knowledge of Chinese grammar, expand their vocabulary, and consolidate the command they have already acquired.

Instruction at this level is expected to be entirely in Chinese. The course includes many exercises as well as in-class exams, and students are expected to conduct extensive self-study.

This course focuses on training students' reading comprehension and ability to formulate texts with an emphasis on practical everyday Chinese.

This course continues Chinese Language Usage II and trains further students' listening comprehension and oral expression. The course is mainly formed of exercises to enhance listening comprehension and oral expression as a complement to the course Chinese III. It is based on HSK level 3.

The aim of the course is to introduce modern japanese society to the students. Lectures and discussions will be held on topics such as social environment, education system, politics, economics and contemporary culture. Lecturers will vary based on fields of research.

Students look at international trade between the West and Asia (China and Japan) from a macroeconomic point of view. Also use micro-perspective on companies doing business in Asia (China and Japan).

• Students look at how trade and investment patterns in the Asian region are shaped by the global political economy.
• Students will analyze individual companies and their business in the Asian market, how investments (FDI) are conducted by these companies and analyze their value chain.
• Students work on real-life examples (group projects) of companies doing business in Asia

More specific description:
This course is intended as an introduction to business operations and macroeconomic issues with special reference to Asia i.e. Japan and China. The course uses both theoretical definitions as well as real-life examples. The course is divided into 3 main parts:

• In the first part, the macroeconomic perspective on trade and investment in the Asian region will be discussed on the basis of individual data on trade, the consequences of the WTO as well as free trade agreements and their consequences, especially the China-Iceland free trade agreement and its consequences.
• The second part of the course will introduce a microperspective of companies doing business in Asia. Foreign direct investment (FDI) and international value chains (GVC) will be examined. A theoretical approach will be used to explain companies' choice of location due to FDI. Western companies entering Asia as well as Asian companies entering the western market will be in focus.
• The third part of the course goes into project work where students analyze a company that has operations in China or Japan or those Chinese / Japanese companies that have established themselves in Iceland. Students conduct a case study.

This course explores the history of China from the mythical Xia dynasty in the third millenium BCE to the beginning of the nineteenth century. It seeks to illuminate the most important factors in the formation of Chinese culture as well as to explain individual events in the political and social development of the Chinese nation. An overview will be provided of the origin and development of the most important Chinese religious and philosophical streams of thought, notably Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism. Influential individuals will be introduced. The interaction and mutual influence between non-Chinese groups and the Chinese nation in the course of history will be emphasised.

This course explores the history of China from the mythical Xia dynasty in the third millenium BCE to the beginning of the seventeenth century. It seeks to illuminate the most important factors in the formation of Chinese culture as well as to explain individual events in the political and social development of the Chinese nation. An overview will be provided of the origin and development of the most important Chinese religious and philosophical streams of thought, notably Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism. The interaction and mutual influence between non-Chinese groups and the Chinese nation in the course of history will be emphasised.

This is a comprehensive elementary course in standard Chinese (mandarin, putonghua), continuing the course Chinese III. The approximate course level is HSK 4.

Students deepen their understanding of Chinese grammar, improve their vocabulary and generally advance in their command of the Chinese language. Instruction is conducted in Chinese only. Homework and in-class quizes will be frequent, and students are expected to conduct extensive self-study.

BA-thesis in Chinese studies. The thesis ought to be written in Icelandic but in certain instances it is possible to write the thesis in English, for example if a student's native language isn't Icelandic. It is not possible to write the thesis in other languages. 

BA-thesis in Chinese studies. The thesis ought to be written in Icelandic but in certain instances it is possible to write the thesis in English, for example if a student's native language isn't Icelandic. It is not possible to write the thesis in other languages. 

This course continues Chinese texts I. As previously, it focuses on training students' reading comprehension and ability to formulate texts with an emphasis on practical everyday Chinese. The course will also be used to prepare for taking the HSK test. The approximate HSK level is 3-4 and instruction is mainly conducted in Chinese.

This course continues Chinese Language Usage III (KÍN304G). Further training of students' listening comprehension and oral expression will be conducted, e.g. through conversation according to context or scenario provided by instructor. The course requires considerable homework and in-class exams will be frequent. Class attendance is compulsory. 

The course is mainly formed of exercises to enhance listening comprehension and oral expression as a complement to the course Chinese IV (KÍN403G). Two class hours a week are used for practising listening comprehension. These will take place in the Language Centre in the Veröld building. The primary aim of the course is to enhance students' command of everyday Chinese.

Optional course for students of the Faculty of Languages and Cultures, in their 2nd or 3rd year of the BA-programme. The students read and study a well-known play that has been translated into several languages. The students will read the text in the target language. The students choose scenes from the play for the production.

Teachers from the target languages will assist the students with pronunciation.

Maximum number of students in this course is 15.

The course aims to give the students an insight into the main theories, concepts, topics, and principles of macroeconomics and macroeconomic activity. The course stresses both the analytical content and applied usefulness of the topics covered and how they relate to various current economic issues at home and abroad. A sound knowledge of macroeconomics prepares students for various other economics courses, and for life.

The objective of the course is to introduce students to the core concepts of marketing theory and marketing management. The course covers the marketing concept, marketing orientation, and marketing management. Analysis of the marketing environment is also discussed along with analysis of consumer behavior, marketing strategy, competition, and competitive advantage. Finally, the course focuses on the practical application of marketing concepts for success.

Important issues in the mathematics of secondary school revisited.Linear and non-linear equations. Basic mathematics of finance. Differentiation, partial differentiation. Constrained and unconstrained optimization, Lagrange multiplilers. Integration. Elementary linear algebra.

This course is intended to do the student able to read corporate financial statements. Fundamentals of financial accounting and financial reporting are introduced. The double entry model explained through the accounting equation. Presentation of the conceptual framework for accounting: assumptions, principles and concepts.  The logical relationship between individual chapters in financial statements is in foreground. Whose things have influence on shareholders equity? Main methods of financial statement analysis are presented, especially ratio analysis. Extensive exercises are covered in separate group sessions.

The aim of the course is to teach students the basic principles of economic thinking and main theories and concepts in microeconomics. The topics covered include: Markets, specialisation and trade. Supply, demand, elascticity and government policies. Efficiency and welfare. The Icelandic tax system and the effects of taxation on market activity. Externalities, public goods and common resources. Firm behaviour and the organisation of industry. Consumer choice. Labour market, earnings and discrimination. Assymetric information, political economy, behavioural economics.

This course will discuss study techniques, critical thinking, ethics, group work, communication, listening and how to present projects. Students work on individual and group projects of various kinds.

The aim of the course is to provide students with basic skills in professional work; students acquire skills in source usage and how to write bibliography.

The objectives in Financial Management I & II is that students can acquire knowledge and methods to:
* Basic knowledge of financial markets
* Evaluate the value of simple financial instruments on different timeline, calculate present value different cash flow of financial assets, projects and fixed assets.
* Techniques in financial management and planning in corporate finance.
* Sophisticated methods of Corporate Finance to solve complicated financial problems.

This course deals with law and regulation applicable to commercial transactions and business organizations. The purpose of the course is to prepare students for the legal challenges they can expect to encounter as entrepreneurs and managers of private businesses . Topics covered include contracts, torts, negotiable instruments, security and guarantees, and bankruptcy. Laws applicable to business organization will also be studied and the fundamentals of securities laws.

 The main objective of the course is to expand the students’ understanding of the global business environment and how it affects markets, production and the welfare of individuals. Students will learn about foreign trade and investment and the main economic institutions. Students will learn how to evaluate market potential and will be introduced to cultural differences and human resource in different markets. At the end of the course the students should have a good overview over world trade and distant markets will seem closer than at the beginning. The most common forms of international trade will be discussed and the students should learn what a company has to do in order to change from a domestic firm to an international one and what alternatives it can choose from.

The aim of this course is to provide an integrated basic understanding of the complexity of the international business environment and the challenges it poses for firms engaged in cross- border activities. For example, emphasis is put on the differences among countries and how these differences are linked with the various strategic choices firms adopt in order to compete internationally. By the end of the course students will enhance their ability to more effectively explain, interpret and synthesise international business practices in multidisciplinary discourse.

The course covers the principles of Icelandic tax law concerning tax liability and taxable income, including which items are tax deductible. A special emphasis will be placed on the filing of sources of income for individuals and the self-employed through solving problems and cases. The filing of tax returns for individuals, couples, and businesses will be introduced. The determination of benefits and tax credit will be discussed. The fundamental principles of tax law will be covered, along with re-assessment of taxes and the consequences of fraudulent filing. An overview will be given of the key principles of the laws on value added tax and the social insurance fee. Upon completion of the course a student shall be able to file tax returns for individuals and small businesses as well as appeal tax assessments that he/she deems incorrect.

This course focuses on tools for data analysis as basis for planning and decision support in the business environment. The course will introduce Databases, Data Warehouses, SQL Query Language. Introduction to Business Intelligence, application areas and its‘ role in planning and decision making. Introduction to data warehouse, business intelligence, artificial intelligence, data science and electronic trade. 

Focus is on practical examples with variouse tools, like Excel, Access, SQLite og Power BI.

Financial institutions are a pillar of civilized society, supporting people in their productive ventures and managing the economic risks they take on. The workings of these institutions are important to comprehend, if we are to predict their actions today and their evolution in the coming information age. The course strives to offer understanding of the theory of finance and its relation to the history, strengths and imperfections of such institutions as banking, insurance, securities, futures, and other derivatives markets, and the future of these institutions over the next century. The Icelandic Banking System collapse offers myriad of examples and cases that provide a fruitful ground for learning. A frequent reference will be made to those throughout the course.

This course is designed for students on the F- and R-line (finance and accounting). The purpose with the course is that the students obtains knowledge and understanding on matters that management of companies needs to have to prepare financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. In the course students, will learn about generally accepted accounting principles according to international accountings standards (IFRS) and icelandic GAAP. Among topics: Financial accounting and accounting standards, income statement, balance sheet and cash flow. Revenue recognition and cost accounting, inventories, accounts receivables, PPE, intangible assets, income tax, impairment test, accounting for financial instruments, liabilities and equity. Students will need to solve assignments during the course.

This course focuses on a holistic approach to project management. The content deals with planning, scheduling, organizing, and controlling projects--for example, product development, construction, information systems, new businesses, and special events. The course includes major topics of Strategy, Priorities, Organization, Project Tools, and Leadership. Primary class emphasis is on the project management process and tools. Project management is becoming increasingly more important in today's world. Mastery of key tools and concepts could give you a significant competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Please note, students must log in and purchase the book Project Management, The Managerial Process on the McGraw-Hill website. Further information can be found on the course's Canvas page.

In this course students will learn all about the main functions of HRM and HRM departments in companies, both from a theoretical and practical point of view. Students should gain understanding on the procedure of HRM within Icelandic companies as well as global. In this course students will analyse employment relations with a critical viewpoint.
Students should be prepared to work within HRM department after this course.

The aim of the course is to introduce to business students the field of industrial and employee relations and the main changes that have occurred in the labour market for the last decades. This course cover topics such as; theories of the labour market (unitary, conflict, social action, systems and Marxist theories), strike theories, corporatism, comparative European industrial relations, industrial democracy and employee involvement, institutionalisation of conflict, collective bargaining, role of trade unions, role of the state, role of employers association. Labor law, collective bargaining, strikes and strikes theories will be discussed. Finally main topics concerning employment relations will be discussed.

Definition of marketing research. Marketing research and science. Marketing research and decision making. Selection of research variables. Basic methods of collecting data. Secondary data. Bayesian analysis. The marketing research process. Construction of a questionnaire. Scaling. Attitude measurement. Sampling and its application to marketing problems. Data collection and the field force. Evaluation and research presentation. Experimentation.

The course focuses on the practical aspects of doing business in an international and multicultural environment; on understanding the main obstacles that executives in international business face, the challenges of managing a multicultural workforce, and how cultural diversity affects all aspects of business. The main goal of the course is to develop the skills and intercultural competence to overcome those obstacles. To develop the skills to understand and deal with different cultures, we study theories and concepts of culture. To gain further insights into cultural dimensions, values, customs, and practices, we profile different national cultures. To understand international and intercultural business, we study how culture impacts the main areas of communication, management, marketing and finance. To comprehend how corporate cultures and sub-cultures cut across national cultures, we study different industries or business sectors. To develop students' intercultural communication skills, the classes are very interactive and students work on projects in cross-cultural teams, give presentations and write reports. The course is taught in English.

The focus is on brand management and relationship marketing. The key methods of relationship marketing are discussed and their application outlined. The role of brands and brand equity is covered, as well as the development of a strong brand. Different methods for assessing brand equity are discussed in addition to how brand strategy can be applied to maximize brand equity. Students shall take active part in lectures, discussions and project work.

This course deals with the organisation of creative industries, which have been defined as "industries producing goods broadly associated with cultural artistic or entertainment values" (Caves, 2000). The aim is for the students to gain understanding of the peculiarities of creative industries, where parts of the 'industry' is dependent upon public support while other parts are profit oriented.

The course will be divided into lectures and discussion classes with visits from the creative industries in Iceland.

This course is for all students in the University and will be taught if there is enough participation.

Intermediate microeconomic theory. Basic factors of price theory, uncertainty, including analysis of demand, costs of production and supply relationships, and price and output determination under various market structures, market failures and public choice.

This course is divided in practical and theoretical lines.

The practical part will examina all major parts of excel with emphasis on financial calculations and data analysis. The course will introduce practical examples that will benfit students in other courses and at the workplace.

The theoretical part will provide overview over usage of computers in the workplace and some theoretical aspects of computer usage. It will look at aspects important in financing and operation of computer systems.

The student is expected to have a computer with practical knowledge of its operating system.

Introduction to management accounting. Most important cost terms will be presented and cost-volume-profit analysis. Different accounting systems around manufacturing costs and allocation of indirect costs. The difference between absorption costing and variable costing. Budgeting, standard costing and variance analysis. Performance evaluation of different departments and products and cost allocation. After this course the students should understand well the importance of management accounting for decision making in business.

The main objective of the course is to introduce the key concepts of service, i.e. the characteristics of service, specific issues related to service and how these issues affect services marketing and service solutions. The qualities and characteristics of service are discussed, the service triangle, the service gap, service consumer behavior, expectations and perceptions, as well as the importance of establishing a lasting relationship with customers. Furthermore, consideration is given to service design, standards and benchmarks, the service setting, the role of the customer in effective service implementation, the balance of service supply and demand, pricing, and considerations in the formulation of promotion strategy for service solutions. Upon completion of the course, students are expected to:

Have knowledge of the key concepts of service
Have knowledge and understanding of specific problems related to service
Have knowledge of the service triangle and service quality model
Be able to define the roles of customers and employees in effective service implementation
Have knowledge and understanding of concepts related to service design and service strategy
Be able to elaborate a simple promotion strategy for service solutions.

The main objective of the course is that the students gain knowledge and understanding of key management concepts, theories and  tools or methods connected  to the manager‘s job.  The focus is on the managerial work and the human  resource management and communication in the workplace. Various teaching and  learning methods are utilized.

Descriptive statistics, measures of location and variation. Frequency distributions. Probabilities, rules of probability, statistical expectation. Probability distributions. Sampling and sampling distributions. Inferences about means, standard deviations and proportions. Correlation. Linear regression. Exercises.

This course is a continuation of the introductory course. The main emphasis here is on the preparation of financial statement, fx. allowance for doubtful accounts, depreciation af property, plant and equipment, goodwill and other intangible assets, inventories valuation, fair value of securities and equities, deferred taxes etc. Preparation of cash-flow statement. In this context the Icelandic legal regulation of accounting and International Financial Accounting Standards (IFRS/IAS) are being dealt with. Calculation of income tax will be presented. Extensive exercises are covered in separate group sessions. After this course students should be capable of preparing financial statement for a comparatively simple company.

Good corporate governance and skilled financial management are the key ingredients for a successfully run corporation.  Finance II builds on the course Finance I, and has its main focus on the corporation and how it is being run from financial management point of view.  The course covers topics in corporate governance, how incentives are embedded in the operation of the firm and what economic and financial outcomes are to be expected from the incentive structure.  The main focus of the course is financial management; the firm’s capital structure, short and long term financing, capital budgeting, dividend policies, short term financial planning as well as financial distress.

Welcome to Operations Management!

Ever noticed how everything around us seems to somehow just work? That's what this course is all about – uncovering the fascinating world of processes in businesses and our daily lives. We'll explore how things get made, from the smallest gadget in your hand to the largest machines. It's not just about factories and assembly lines; we'll see how everything from your favourite coffee shop to the latest tech companies use processes to deliver what we love. We'll dive into how to design these processes, keep them running smoothly, and constantly improve them.

So get ready to look at the world around you in a whole new way, as a series of amazing processes making our lives better. Get ready to see the world like Operations Managers.

The objective of the course is to develop students' professional communication skills. The course aims to enhance their vocal qualities and connection with the audience. It aids them in becoming fluent and confident speakers, and effective and efficient writers, who know how to state a clear main idea and provide clear and structured substantiation for their claims. The course focuses on: projecting the voice, pronouncing clearly, breathing effectively, and relaxing the voice. Developing vocal quality and the relationship with the audience. Anxiety and ways to conquer it. Clear and organized structure. Communicating in meetings and small groups. Students give presentations throughout the course. Written assignments, such as CVs, proposals, and reports, focus on audience analysis, clarity, organization, and effective word choice. The course is taught in English.

The learning path starts with overall orientation and definitions. The focus at first is on challenges in the external environment and how organizational effectiveness can be assessed. Then the focus is on understanding and analysing the structure of organizations and on what should be in the picture when an organizational structure is designed. Influences and challenges related to organizational design and ethical and societal challenges are reviewed. Innovation, knowledge, information, and decision making in the context of organizational change are also covered. Then the impact of artificial intelligence on the structure and working methods of organizations will be discussed.

Diversity management is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon. In this course we will capture this complexity by bringing insights from sociology, psychology, international relations, history, management, business and organization studies. Studying international perspectives on diversity management provides a wealth of insight into how diversity may be managed under different national systems and institutions. This course is designed to equip you with an understanding of basic concepts and principles of diversity management which should assist you in interacting effectively and appropriately with people with various backgrounds and abilities. It will also help you understand how diversity interfaces with topics of current interest within business and management. The workplace is a strong situation that enables subtle prejudice and stereotypes to manifest. To develop effective strategies for diversity management, it is imperative for managers to develop theoretical and conceptual frameworks and skills that will enhance their understanding of the specific contexts and issues they wish to explore and change.

The focus of the course is on the methodology for developing marketing plans, from market analysis to action plans.  Methods for analyzing market position, for creating marketing strategy, and for the selection of marketing tactics are discussed.
Students develop marketing plans for goods or services, working in groups of four.  Students will contact an organization and develop a marketing plan in alliance with that specific organization.
The course format is a mix of lectures, discussions and project work.

The theory behind decisions of investors and corporations regarding building and managing asset and liability portfolios. Risk management of corporations will also be covered.

The course is taught in English

This course is a continuation of Financial Statements A, which is taught in the fall semester. It is expected that students of this course are fully familiar with the content of the course Financial Statements A.
The course will cover the principles in accounting under both IFRS and Icelandic law. Topics: cash flow, income tax, earnings per share, financial instruments, finance leases, assets held for sale and discontinued operations, investment properties, provision, information in the financial statements and related parties.
Assignments are part of the course, and students will need submit them.

Reserved the righttochangethecoursedescription.

The learning path is in line with the structure of the textbook, starts with overall orientation and definitions. Then the focus is on external and internal analysis in order to assess the strategic situation of companies. After that issues of strategy development are covered and that of strategy implementation. The class will use different teaching methods and the students are required to work on cases and examples of real companies.

This course focuses in particular on Chinese phonology by training pronunciation and tones. It is mainly formed of exercises to enhance listening comprehension and oral expression on the basis of course material used in the course Chinese I. The course is based on HSK level 1.

This is a comprehensive elementary course in standard Chinese (mandarin, putonghua). Students will learn basic features and the grammatical as well as tonal structure of Chinese, with an emphasis on practical vocabulary for everyday use.

The pinyin transliteration system will be used initially, but then simplified Chinese characters (jiantizi) is gradually introduced. 

The course includes many exercises as well as in-class exams, and students are expected to conduct extensive self-study. Class attendance is compulsory in the course.

How does China work? This an overview course of the main factors that influence contemporary Chinese society, politics and economy, with an emphasis on the changes following the implementation of the Open Door Policy in 1978. It is a journey through the major developments of China‘s recent economic history. Politics and changes in the top leadership of the State and the Party will be examined from the perspective of political economy and relations with neighbouring countries in Asia and the Pacific. Certain topics concerning China‘s development will be examined in individual lessons such as energy, environment, demography, arts and international relations. Furthermore,  the status of the family, human and gender rights will be examined. Hong Kong, Taiwan and Tibet will also be discussed. Clips from recent Chinese documentaries on various aspects of the transformation of Chinese society  will be screened. The course is taught in English.

This is a comprehensive elementary course in standard Chinese (mandarin, putonghua), continuing the course Chinese I. The approximate course level is HSK 2-3.

Students deepen their knowledge of Chinese grammar, expand their vocabulary, and consolidate their acquired knowledge of Chinese. Active use of the language will be emphasized and teaching will be increasingly conducted in Chinese instead of English. The course includes many exercises as well as in-class exams, and students are expected to conduct extensive self-study.

This course continues the phonological training of Chinese Language Usage I in terms of pronunciation and tones. It is mainly formed of exercises to enhance listening comprehension and oral expression on the basis of the course material used in the course Chinese II. The course is based on HSK level 2.

This course explores the history of China from the mythical Xia dynasty in the third millenium BCE to the beginning of the nineteenth century. It seeks to illuminate the most important factors in the formation of Chinese culture as well as to explain individual events in the political and social development of the Chinese nation. An overview will be provided of the origin and development of the most important Chinese religious and philosophical streams of thought, notably Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism. Influential individuals will be introduced. The interaction and mutual influence between non-Chinese groups and the Chinese nation in the course of history will be emphasised.

This course explores the history of China from the mythical Xia dynasty in the third millenium BCE to the beginning of the seventeenth century. It seeks to illuminate the most important factors in the formation of Chinese culture as well as to explain individual events in the political and social development of the Chinese nation. An overview will be provided of the origin and development of the most important Chinese religious and philosophical streams of thought, notably Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism. The interaction and mutual influence between non-Chinese groups and the Chinese nation in the course of history will be emphasised.

This is a comprehensive elementary course in standard Chinese (mandarin, putonghua), continuing the course Chinese II. The approximate course level is HSK 3-4.

Students deepen their knowledge of Chinese grammar, expand their vocabulary, and consolidate the command they have already acquired.

Instruction at this level is expected to be entirely in Chinese. The course includes many exercises as well as in-class exams, and students are expected to conduct extensive self-study.

This course focuses on training students' reading comprehension and ability to formulate texts with an emphasis on practical everyday Chinese.

This course continues Chinese Language Usage II and trains further students' listening comprehension and oral expression. The course is mainly formed of exercises to enhance listening comprehension and oral expression as a complement to the course Chinese III. It is based on HSK level 3.

The aim of the course is to introduce modern japanese society to the students. Lectures and discussions will be held on topics such as social environment, education system, politics, economics and contemporary culture. Lecturers will vary based on fields of research.

Students look at international trade between the West and Asia (China and Japan) from a macroeconomic point of view. Also use micro-perspective on companies doing business in Asia (China and Japan).

• Students look at how trade and investment patterns in the Asian region are shaped by the global political economy.
• Students will analyze individual companies and their business in the Asian market, how investments (FDI) are conducted by these companies and analyze their value chain.
• Students work on real-life examples (group projects) of companies doing business in Asia

More specific description:
This course is intended as an introduction to business operations and macroeconomic issues with special reference to Asia i.e. Japan and China. The course uses both theoretical definitions as well as real-life examples. The course is divided into 3 main parts:

• In the first part, the macroeconomic perspective on trade and investment in the Asian region will be discussed on the basis of individual data on trade, the consequences of the WTO as well as free trade agreements and their consequences, especially the China-Iceland free trade agreement and its consequences.
• The second part of the course will introduce a microperspective of companies doing business in Asia. Foreign direct investment (FDI) and international value chains (GVC) will be examined. A theoretical approach will be used to explain companies' choice of location due to FDI. Western companies entering Asia as well as Asian companies entering the western market will be in focus.
• The third part of the course goes into project work where students analyze a company that has operations in China or Japan or those Chinese / Japanese companies that have established themselves in Iceland. Students conduct a case study.

This course explores the history of China from the mythical Xia dynasty in the third millenium BCE to the beginning of the nineteenth century. It seeks to illuminate the most important factors in the formation of Chinese culture as well as to explain individual events in the political and social development of the Chinese nation. An overview will be provided of the origin and development of the most important Chinese religious and philosophical streams of thought, notably Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism. Influential individuals will be introduced. The interaction and mutual influence between non-Chinese groups and the Chinese nation in the course of history will be emphasised.

This course explores the history of China from the mythical Xia dynasty in the third millenium BCE to the beginning of the seventeenth century. It seeks to illuminate the most important factors in the formation of Chinese culture as well as to explain individual events in the political and social development of the Chinese nation. An overview will be provided of the origin and development of the most important Chinese religious and philosophical streams of thought, notably Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism. The interaction and mutual influence between non-Chinese groups and the Chinese nation in the course of history will be emphasised.

This is a comprehensive elementary course in standard Chinese (mandarin, putonghua), continuing the course Chinese III. The approximate course level is HSK 4.

Students deepen their understanding of Chinese grammar, improve their vocabulary and generally advance in their command of the Chinese language. Instruction is conducted in Chinese only. Homework and in-class quizes will be frequent, and students are expected to conduct extensive self-study.

BA-thesis in Chinese studies. The thesis ought to be written in Icelandic but in certain instances it is possible to write the thesis in English, for example if a student's native language isn't Icelandic. It is not possible to write the thesis in other languages. 

BA-thesis in Chinese studies. The thesis ought to be written in Icelandic but in certain instances it is possible to write the thesis in English, for example if a student's native language isn't Icelandic. It is not possible to write the thesis in other languages. 

This course continues Chinese texts I. As previously, it focuses on training students' reading comprehension and ability to formulate texts with an emphasis on practical everyday Chinese. The course will also be used to prepare for taking the HSK test. The approximate HSK level is 3-4 and instruction is mainly conducted in Chinese.

This course continues Chinese Language Usage III (KÍN304G). Further training of students' listening comprehension and oral expression will be conducted, e.g. through conversation according to context or scenario provided by instructor. The course requires considerable homework and in-class exams will be frequent. Class attendance is compulsory. 

The course is mainly formed of exercises to enhance listening comprehension and oral expression as a complement to the course Chinese IV (KÍN403G). Two class hours a week are used for practising listening comprehension. These will take place in the Language Centre in the Veröld building. The primary aim of the course is to enhance students' command of everyday Chinese.

Optional course for students of the Faculty of Languages and Cultures, in their 2nd or 3rd year of the BA-programme. The students read and study a well-known play that has been translated into several languages. The students will read the text in the target language. The students choose scenes from the play for the production.

Teachers from the target languages will assist the students with pronunciation.

Maximum number of students in this course is 15.

The course aims to give the students an insight into the main theories, concepts, topics, and principles of macroeconomics and macroeconomic activity. The course stresses both the analytical content and applied usefulness of the topics covered and how they relate to various current economic issues at home and abroad. A sound knowledge of macroeconomics prepares students for various other economics courses, and for life.

The objective of the course is to introduce students to the core concepts of marketing theory and marketing management. The course covers the marketing concept, marketing orientation, and marketing management. Analysis of the marketing environment is also discussed along with analysis of consumer behavior, marketing strategy, competition, and competitive advantage. Finally, the course focuses on the practical application of marketing concepts for success.

Important issues in the mathematics of secondary school revisited.Linear and non-linear equations. Basic mathematics of finance. Differentiation, partial differentiation. Constrained and unconstrained optimization, Lagrange multiplilers. Integration. Elementary linear algebra.

This course is intended to do the student able to read corporate financial statements. Fundamentals of financial accounting and financial reporting are introduced. The double entry model explained through the accounting equation. Presentation of the conceptual framework for accounting: assumptions, principles and concepts.  The logical relationship between individual chapters in financial statements is in foreground. Whose things have influence on shareholders equity? Main methods of financial statement analysis are presented, especially ratio analysis. Extensive exercises are covered in separate group sessions.

The aim of the course is to teach students the basic principles of economic thinking and main theories and concepts in microeconomics. The topics covered include: Markets, specialisation and trade. Supply, demand, elascticity and government policies. Efficiency and welfare. The Icelandic tax system and the effects of taxation on market activity. Externalities, public goods and common resources. Firm behaviour and the organisation of industry. Consumer choice. Labour market, earnings and discrimination. Assymetric information, political economy, behavioural economics.

This course will discuss study techniques, critical thinking, ethics, group work, communication, listening and how to present projects. Students work on individual and group projects of various kinds.

The aim of the course is to provide students with basic skills in professional work; students acquire skills in source usage and how to write bibliography.

The objectives in Financial Management I & II is that students can acquire knowledge and methods to:
* Basic knowledge of financial markets
* Evaluate the value of simple financial instruments on different timeline, calculate present value different cash flow of financial assets, projects and fixed assets.
* Techniques in financial management and planning in corporate finance.
* Sophisticated methods of Corporate Finance to solve complicated financial problems.

This course deals with law and regulation applicable to commercial transactions and business organizations. The purpose of the course is to prepare students for the legal challenges they can expect to encounter as entrepreneurs and managers of private businesses . Topics covered include contracts, torts, negotiable instruments, security and guarantees, and bankruptcy. Laws applicable to business organization will also be studied and the fundamentals of securities laws.

 The main objective of the course is to expand the students’ understanding of the global business environment and how it affects markets, production and the welfare of individuals. Students will learn about foreign trade and investment and the main economic institutions. Students will learn how to evaluate market potential and will be introduced to cultural differences and human resource in different markets. At the end of the course the students should have a good overview over world trade and distant markets will seem closer than at the beginning. The most common forms of international trade will be discussed and the students should learn what a company has to do in order to change from a domestic firm to an international one and what alternatives it can choose from.

The aim of this course is to provide an integrated basic understanding of the complexity of the international business environment and the challenges it poses for firms engaged in cross- border activities. For example, emphasis is put on the differences among countries and how these differences are linked with the various strategic choices firms adopt in order to compete internationally. By the end of the course students will enhance their ability to more effectively explain, interpret and synthesise international business practices in multidisciplinary discourse.

The course covers the principles of Icelandic tax law concerning tax liability and taxable income, including which items are tax deductible. A special emphasis will be placed on the filing of sources of income for individuals and the self-employed through solving problems and cases. The filing of tax returns for individuals, couples, and businesses will be introduced. The determination of benefits and tax credit will be discussed. The fundamental principles of tax law will be covered, along with re-assessment of taxes and the consequences of fraudulent filing. An overview will be given of the key principles of the laws on value added tax and the social insurance fee. Upon completion of the course a student shall be able to file tax returns for individuals and small businesses as well as appeal tax assessments that he/she deems incorrect.

This course focuses on tools for data analysis as basis for planning and decision support in the business environment. The course will introduce Databases, Data Warehouses, SQL Query Language. Introduction to Business Intelligence, application areas and its‘ role in planning and decision making. Introduction to data warehouse, business intelligence, artificial intelligence, data science and electronic trade. 

Focus is on practical examples with variouse tools, like Excel, Access, SQLite og Power BI.

Financial institutions are a pillar of civilized society, supporting people in their productive ventures and managing the economic risks they take on. The workings of these institutions are important to comprehend, if we are to predict their actions today and their evolution in the coming information age. The course strives to offer understanding of the theory of finance and its relation to the history, strengths and imperfections of such institutions as banking, insurance, securities, futures, and other derivatives markets, and the future of these institutions over the next century. The Icelandic Banking System collapse offers myriad of examples and cases that provide a fruitful ground for learning. A frequent reference will be made to those throughout the course.

This course is designed for students on the F- and R-line (finance and accounting). The purpose with the course is that the students obtains knowledge and understanding on matters that management of companies needs to have to prepare financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. In the course students, will learn about generally accepted accounting principles according to international accountings standards (IFRS) and icelandic GAAP. Among topics: Financial accounting and accounting standards, income statement, balance sheet and cash flow. Revenue recognition and cost accounting, inventories, accounts receivables, PPE, intangible assets, income tax, impairment test, accounting for financial instruments, liabilities and equity. Students will need to solve assignments during the course.

This course focuses on a holistic approach to project management. The content deals with planning, scheduling, organizing, and controlling projects--for example, product development, construction, information systems, new businesses, and special events. The course includes major topics of Strategy, Priorities, Organization, Project Tools, and Leadership. Primary class emphasis is on the project management process and tools. Project management is becoming increasingly more important in today's world. Mastery of key tools and concepts could give you a significant competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Please note, students must log in and purchase the book Project Management, The Managerial Process on the McGraw-Hill website. Further information can be found on the course's Canvas page.

In this course students will learn all about the main functions of HRM and HRM departments in companies, both from a theoretical and practical point of view. Students should gain understanding on the procedure of HRM within Icelandic companies as well as global. In this course students will analyse employment relations with a critical viewpoint.
Students should be prepared to work within HRM department after this course.

The aim of the course is to introduce to business students the field of industrial and employee relations and the main changes that have occurred in the labour market for the last decades. This course cover topics such as; theories of the labour market (unitary, conflict, social action, systems and Marxist theories), strike theories, corporatism, comparative European industrial relations, industrial democracy and employee involvement, institutionalisation of conflict, collective bargaining, role of trade unions, role of the state, role of employers association. Labor law, collective bargaining, strikes and strikes theories will be discussed. Finally main topics concerning employment relations will be discussed.

Definition of marketing research. Marketing research and science. Marketing research and decision making. Selection of research variables. Basic methods of collecting data. Secondary data. Bayesian analysis. The marketing research process. Construction of a questionnaire. Scaling. Attitude measurement. Sampling and its application to marketing problems. Data collection and the field force. Evaluation and research presentation. Experimentation.

The course focuses on the practical aspects of doing business in an international and multicultural environment; on understanding the main obstacles that executives in international business face, the challenges of managing a multicultural workforce, and how cultural diversity affects all aspects of business. The main goal of the course is to develop the skills and intercultural competence to overcome those obstacles. To develop the skills to understand and deal with different cultures, we study theories and concepts of culture. To gain further insights into cultural dimensions, values, customs, and practices, we profile different national cultures. To understand international and intercultural business, we study how culture impacts the main areas of communication, management, marketing and finance. To comprehend how corporate cultures and sub-cultures cut across national cultures, we study different industries or business sectors. To develop students' intercultural communication skills, the classes are very interactive and students work on projects in cross-cultural teams, give presentations and write reports. The course is taught in English.

The focus is on brand management and relationship marketing. The key methods of relationship marketing are discussed and their application outlined. The role of brands and brand equity is covered, as well as the development of a strong brand. Different methods for assessing brand equity are discussed in addition to how brand strategy can be applied to maximize brand equity. Students shall take active part in lectures, discussions and project work.

This course deals with the organisation of creative industries, which have been defined as "industries producing goods broadly associated with cultural artistic or entertainment values" (Caves, 2000). The aim is for the students to gain understanding of the peculiarities of creative industries, where parts of the 'industry' is dependent upon public support while other parts are profit oriented.

The course will be divided into lectures and discussion classes with visits from the creative industries in Iceland.

This course is for all students in the University and will be taught if there is enough participation.

Intermediate microeconomic theory. Basic factors of price theory, uncertainty, including analysis of demand, costs of production and supply relationships, and price and output determination under various market structures, market failures and public choice.

This course is divided in practical and theoretical lines.

The practical part will examina all major parts of excel with emphasis on financial calculations and data analysis. The course will introduce practical examples that will benfit students in other courses and at the workplace.

The theoretical part will provide overview over usage of computers in the workplace and some theoretical aspects of computer usage. It will look at aspects important in financing and operation of computer systems.

The student is expected to have a computer with practical knowledge of its operating system.

Introduction to management accounting. Most important cost terms will be presented and cost-volume-profit analysis. Different accounting systems around manufacturing costs and allocation of indirect costs. The difference between absorption costing and variable costing. Budgeting, standard costing and variance analysis. Performance evaluation of different departments and products and cost allocation. After this course the students should understand well the importance of management accounting for decision making in business.

The main objective of the course is to introduce the key concepts of service, i.e. the characteristics of service, specific issues related to service and how these issues affect services marketing and service solutions. The qualities and characteristics of service are discussed, the service triangle, the service gap, service consumer behavior, expectations and perceptions, as well as the importance of establishing a lasting relationship with customers. Furthermore, consideration is given to service design, standards and benchmarks, the service setting, the role of the customer in effective service implementation, the balance of service supply and demand, pricing, and considerations in the formulation of promotion strategy for service solutions. Upon completion of the course, students are expected to:

Have knowledge of the key concepts of service
Have knowledge and understanding of specific problems related to service
Have knowledge of the service triangle and service quality model
Be able to define the roles of customers and employees in effective service implementation
Have knowledge and understanding of concepts related to service design and service strategy
Be able to elaborate a simple promotion strategy for service solutions.

The main objective of the course is that the students gain knowledge and understanding of key management concepts, theories and  tools or methods connected  to the manager‘s job.  The focus is on the managerial work and the human  resource management and communication in the workplace. Various teaching and  learning methods are utilized.

Descriptive statistics, measures of location and variation. Frequency distributions. Probabilities, rules of probability, statistical expectation. Probability distributions. Sampling and sampling distributions. Inferences about means, standard deviations and proportions. Correlation. Linear regression. Exercises.

This course is a continuation of the introductory course. The main emphasis here is on the preparation of financial statement, fx. allowance for doubtful accounts, depreciation af property, plant and equipment, goodwill and other intangible assets, inventories valuation, fair value of securities and equities, deferred taxes etc. Preparation of cash-flow statement. In this context the Icelandic legal regulation of accounting and International Financial Accounting Standards (IFRS/IAS) are being dealt with. Calculation of income tax will be presented. Extensive exercises are covered in separate group sessions. After this course students should be capable of preparing financial statement for a comparatively simple company.

Good corporate governance and skilled financial management are the key ingredients for a successfully run corporation.  Finance II builds on the course Finance I, and has its main focus on the corporation and how it is being run from financial management point of view.  The course covers topics in corporate governance, how incentives are embedded in the operation of the firm and what economic and financial outcomes are to be expected from the incentive structure.  The main focus of the course is financial management; the firm’s capital structure, short and long term financing, capital budgeting, dividend policies, short term financial planning as well as financial distress.

Welcome to Operations Management!

Ever noticed how everything around us seems to somehow just work? That's what this course is all about – uncovering the fascinating world of processes in businesses and our daily lives. We'll explore how things get made, from the smallest gadget in your hand to the largest machines. It's not just about factories and assembly lines; we'll see how everything from your favourite coffee shop to the latest tech companies use processes to deliver what we love. We'll dive into how to design these processes, keep them running smoothly, and constantly improve them.

So get ready to look at the world around you in a whole new way, as a series of amazing processes making our lives better. Get ready to see the world like Operations Managers.

The objective of the course is to develop students' professional communication skills. The course aims to enhance their vocal qualities and connection with the audience. It aids them in becoming fluent and confident speakers, and effective and efficient writers, who know how to state a clear main idea and provide clear and structured substantiation for their claims. The course focuses on: projecting the voice, pronouncing clearly, breathing effectively, and relaxing the voice. Developing vocal quality and the relationship with the audience. Anxiety and ways to conquer it. Clear and organized structure. Communicating in meetings and small groups. Students give presentations throughout the course. Written assignments, such as CVs, proposals, and reports, focus on audience analysis, clarity, organization, and effective word choice. The course is taught in English.

The learning path starts with overall orientation and definitions. The focus at first is on challenges in the external environment and how organizational effectiveness can be assessed. Then the focus is on understanding and analysing the structure of organizations and on what should be in the picture when an organizational structure is designed. Influences and challenges related to organizational design and ethical and societal challenges are reviewed. Innovation, knowledge, information, and decision making in the context of organizational change are also covered. Then the impact of artificial intelligence on the structure and working methods of organizations will be discussed.

Diversity management is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon. In this course we will capture this complexity by bringing insights from sociology, psychology, international relations, history, management, business and organization studies. Studying international perspectives on diversity management provides a wealth of insight into how diversity may be managed under different national systems and institutions. This course is designed to equip you with an understanding of basic concepts and principles of diversity management which should assist you in interacting effectively and appropriately with people with various backgrounds and abilities. It will also help you understand how diversity interfaces with topics of current interest within business and management. The workplace is a strong situation that enables subtle prejudice and stereotypes to manifest. To develop effective strategies for diversity management, it is imperative for managers to develop theoretical and conceptual frameworks and skills that will enhance their understanding of the specific contexts and issues they wish to explore and change.

The focus of the course is on the methodology for developing marketing plans, from market analysis to action plans.  Methods for analyzing market position, for creating marketing strategy, and for the selection of marketing tactics are discussed.
Students develop marketing plans for goods or services, working in groups of four.  Students will contact an organization and develop a marketing plan in alliance with that specific organization.
The course format is a mix of lectures, discussions and project work.

The theory behind decisions of investors and corporations regarding building and managing asset and liability portfolios. Risk management of corporations will also be covered.

The course is taught in English

This course is a continuation of Financial Statements A, which is taught in the fall semester. It is expected that students of this course are fully familiar with the content of the course Financial Statements A.
The course will cover the principles in accounting under both IFRS and Icelandic law. Topics: cash flow, income tax, earnings per share, financial instruments, finance leases, assets held for sale and discontinued operations, investment properties, provision, information in the financial statements and related parties.
Assignments are part of the course, and students will need submit them.

Reserved the righttochangethecoursedescription.

The learning path is in line with the structure of the textbook, starts with overall orientation and definitions. Then the focus is on external and internal analysis in order to assess the strategic situation of companies. After that issues of strategy development are covered and that of strategy implementation. The class will use different teaching methods and the students are required to work on cases and examples of real companies.

This course focuses in particular on Chinese phonology by training pronunciation and tones. It is mainly formed of exercises to enhance listening comprehension and oral expression on the basis of course material used in the course Chinese I. The course is based on HSK level 1.

This is a comprehensive elementary course in standard Chinese (mandarin, putonghua). Students will learn basic features and the grammatical as well as tonal structure of Chinese, with an emphasis on practical vocabulary for everyday use.

The pinyin transliteration system will be used initially, but then simplified Chinese characters (jiantizi) is gradually introduced. 

The course includes many exercises as well as in-class exams, and students are expected to conduct extensive self-study. Class attendance is compulsory in the course.

How does China work? This an overview course of the main factors that influence contemporary Chinese society, politics and economy, with an emphasis on the changes following the implementation of the Open Door Policy in 1978. It is a journey through the major developments of China‘s recent economic history. Politics and changes in the top leadership of the State and the Party will be examined from the perspective of political economy and relations with neighbouring countries in Asia and the Pacific. Certain topics concerning China‘s development will be examined in individual lessons such as energy, environment, demography, arts and international relations. Furthermore,  the status of the family, human and gender rights will be examined. Hong Kong, Taiwan and Tibet will also be discussed. Clips from recent Chinese documentaries on various aspects of the transformation of Chinese society  will be screened. The course is taught in English.

This is a comprehensive elementary course in standard Chinese (mandarin, putonghua), continuing the course Chinese I. The approximate course level is HSK 2-3.

Students deepen their knowledge of Chinese grammar, expand their vocabulary, and consolidate their acquired knowledge of Chinese. Active use of the language will be emphasized and teaching will be increasingly conducted in Chinese instead of English. The course includes many exercises as well as in-class exams, and students are expected to conduct extensive self-study.

This course continues the phonological training of Chinese Language Usage I in terms of pronunciation and tones. It is mainly formed of exercises to enhance listening comprehension and oral expression on the basis of the course material used in the course Chinese II. The course is based on HSK level 2.

This course explores the history of China from the mythical Xia dynasty in the third millenium BCE to the beginning of the nineteenth century. It seeks to illuminate the most important factors in the formation of Chinese culture as well as to explain individual events in the political and social development of the Chinese nation. An overview will be provided of the origin and development of the most important Chinese religious and philosophical streams of thought, notably Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism. Influential individuals will be introduced. The interaction and mutual influence between non-Chinese groups and the Chinese nation in the course of history will be emphasised.

This course explores the history of China from the mythical Xia dynasty in the third millenium BCE to the beginning of the seventeenth century. It seeks to illuminate the most important factors in the formation of Chinese culture as well as to explain individual events in the political and social development of the Chinese nation. An overview will be provided of the origin and development of the most important Chinese religious and philosophical streams of thought, notably Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism. The interaction and mutual influence between non-Chinese groups and the Chinese nation in the course of history will be emphasised.

This is a comprehensive elementary course in standard Chinese (mandarin, putonghua), continuing the course Chinese II. The approximate course level is HSK 3-4.

Students deepen their knowledge of Chinese grammar, expand their vocabulary, and consolidate the command they have already acquired.

Instruction at this level is expected to be entirely in Chinese. The course includes many exercises as well as in-class exams, and students are expected to conduct extensive self-study.

This course focuses on training students' reading comprehension and ability to formulate texts with an emphasis on practical everyday Chinese.

This course continues Chinese Language Usage II and trains further students' listening comprehension and oral expression. The course is mainly formed of exercises to enhance listening comprehension and oral expression as a complement to the course Chinese III. It is based on HSK level 3.

The aim of the course is to introduce modern japanese society to the students. Lectures and discussions will be held on topics such as social environment, education system, politics, economics and contemporary culture. Lecturers will vary based on fields of research.

Students look at international trade between the West and Asia (China and Japan) from a macroeconomic point of view. Also use micro-perspective on companies doing business in Asia (China and Japan).

• Students look at how trade and investment patterns in the Asian region are shaped by the global political economy.
• Students will analyze individual companies and their business in the Asian market, how investments (FDI) are conducted by these companies and analyze their value chain.
• Students work on real-life examples (group projects) of companies doing business in Asia

More specific description:
This course is intended as an introduction to business operations and macroeconomic issues with special reference to Asia i.e. Japan and China. The course uses both theoretical definitions as well as real-life examples. The course is divided into 3 main parts:

• In the first part, the macroeconomic perspective on trade and investment in the Asian region will be discussed on the basis of individual data on trade, the consequences of the WTO as well as free trade agreements and their consequences, especially the China-Iceland free trade agreement and its consequences.
• The second part of the course will introduce a microperspective of companies doing business in Asia. Foreign direct investment (FDI) and international value chains (GVC) will be examined. A theoretical approach will be used to explain companies' choice of location due to FDI. Western companies entering Asia as well as Asian companies entering the western market will be in focus.
• The third part of the course goes into project work where students analyze a company that has operations in China or Japan or those Chinese / Japanese companies that have established themselves in Iceland. Students conduct a case study.

This course explores the history of China from the mythical Xia dynasty in the third millenium BCE to the beginning of the nineteenth century. It seeks to illuminate the most important factors in the formation of Chinese culture as well as to explain individual events in the political and social development of the Chinese nation. An overview will be provided of the origin and development of the most important Chinese religious and philosophical streams of thought, notably Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism. Influential individuals will be introduced. The interaction and mutual influence between non-Chinese groups and the Chinese nation in the course of history will be emphasised.

This course explores the history of China from the mythical Xia dynasty in the third millenium BCE to the beginning of the seventeenth century. It seeks to illuminate the most important factors in the formation of Chinese culture as well as to explain individual events in the political and social development of the Chinese nation. An overview will be provided of the origin and development of the most important Chinese religious and philosophical streams of thought, notably Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism. The interaction and mutual influence between non-Chinese groups and the Chinese nation in the course of history will be emphasised.

This is a comprehensive elementary course in standard Chinese (mandarin, putonghua), continuing the course Chinese III. The approximate course level is HSK 4.

Students deepen their understanding of Chinese grammar, improve their vocabulary and generally advance in their command of the Chinese language. Instruction is conducted in Chinese only. Homework and in-class quizes will be frequent, and students are expected to conduct extensive self-study.

BA-thesis in Chinese studies. The thesis ought to be written in Icelandic but in certain instances it is possible to write the thesis in English, for example if a student's native language isn't Icelandic. It is not possible to write the thesis in other languages. 

BA-thesis in Chinese studies. The thesis ought to be written in Icelandic but in certain instances it is possible to write the thesis in English, for example if a student's native language isn't Icelandic. It is not possible to write the thesis in other languages. 

This course continues Chinese texts I. As previously, it focuses on training students' reading comprehension and ability to formulate texts with an emphasis on practical everyday Chinese. The course will also be used to prepare for taking the HSK test. The approximate HSK level is 3-4 and instruction is mainly conducted in Chinese.

This course continues Chinese Language Usage III (KÍN304G). Further training of students' listening comprehension and oral expression will be conducted, e.g. through conversation according to context or scenario provided by instructor. The course requires considerable homework and in-class exams will be frequent. Class attendance is compulsory. 

The course is mainly formed of exercises to enhance listening comprehension and oral expression as a complement to the course Chinese IV (KÍN403G). Two class hours a week are used for practising listening comprehension. These will take place in the Language Centre in the Veröld building. The primary aim of the course is to enhance students' command of everyday Chinese.

Optional course for students of the Faculty of Languages and Cultures, in their 2nd or 3rd year of the BA-programme. The students read and study a well-known play that has been translated into several languages. The students will read the text in the target language. The students choose scenes from the play for the production.

Teachers from the target languages will assist the students with pronunciation.

Maximum number of students in this course is 15.

The course aims to give the students an insight into the main theories, concepts, topics, and principles of macroeconomics and macroeconomic activity. The course stresses both the analytical content and applied usefulness of the topics covered and how they relate to various current economic issues at home and abroad. A sound knowledge of macroeconomics prepares students for various other economics courses, and for life.

The objective of the course is to introduce students to the core concepts of marketing theory and marketing management. The course covers the marketing concept, marketing orientation, and marketing management. Analysis of the marketing environment is also discussed along with analysis of consumer behavior, marketing strategy, competition, and competitive advantage. Finally, the course focuses on the practical application of marketing concepts for success.

Important issues in the mathematics of secondary school revisited.Linear and non-linear equations. Basic mathematics of finance. Differentiation, partial differentiation. Constrained and unconstrained optimization, Lagrange multiplilers. Integration. Elementary linear algebra.

This course is intended to do the student able to read corporate financial statements. Fundamentals of financial accounting and financial reporting are introduced. The double entry model explained through the accounting equation. Presentation of the conceptual framework for accounting: assumptions, principles and concepts.  The logical relationship between individual chapters in financial statements is in foreground. Whose things have influence on shareholders equity? Main methods of financial statement analysis are presented, especially ratio analysis. Extensive exercises are covered in separate group sessions.

The aim of the course is to teach students the basic principles of economic thinking and main theories and concepts in microeconomics. The topics covered include: Markets, specialisation and trade. Supply, demand, elascticity and government policies. Efficiency and welfare. The Icelandic tax system and the effects of taxation on market activity. Externalities, public goods and common resources. Firm behaviour and the organisation of industry. Consumer choice. Labour market, earnings and discrimination. Assymetric information, political economy, behavioural economics.

This course will discuss study techniques, critical thinking, ethics, group work, communication, listening and how to present projects. Students work on individual and group projects of various kinds.

The aim of the course is to provide students with basic skills in professional work; students acquire skills in source usage and how to write bibliography.

The objectives in Financial Management I & II is that students can acquire knowledge and methods to:
* Basic knowledge of financial markets
* Evaluate the value of simple financial instruments on different timeline, calculate present value different cash flow of financial assets, projects and fixed assets.
* Techniques in financial management and planning in corporate finance.
* Sophisticated methods of Corporate Finance to solve complicated financial problems.

This course deals with law and regulation applicable to commercial transactions and business organizations. The purpose of the course is to prepare students for the legal challenges they can expect to encounter as entrepreneurs and managers of private businesses . Topics covered include contracts, torts, negotiable instruments, security and guarantees, and bankruptcy. Laws applicable to business organization will also be studied and the fundamentals of securities laws.

 The main objective of the course is to expand the students’ understanding of the global business environment and how it affects markets, production and the welfare of individuals. Students will learn about foreign trade and investment and the main economic institutions. Students will learn how to evaluate market potential and will be introduced to cultural differences and human resource in different markets. At the end of the course the students should have a good overview over world trade and distant markets will seem closer than at the beginning. The most common forms of international trade will be discussed and the students should learn what a company has to do in order to change from a domestic firm to an international one and what alternatives it can choose from.

The aim of this course is to provide an integrated basic understanding of the complexity of the international business environment and the challenges it poses for firms engaged in cross- border activities. For example, emphasis is put on the differences among countries and how these differences are linked with the various strategic choices firms adopt in order to compete internationally. By the end of the course students will enhance their ability to more effectively explain, interpret and synthesise international business practices in multidisciplinary discourse.

The course covers the principles of Icelandic tax law concerning tax liability and taxable income, including which items are tax deductible. A special emphasis will be placed on the filing of sources of income for individuals and the self-employed through solving problems and cases. The filing of tax returns for individuals, couples, and businesses will be introduced. The determination of benefits and tax credit will be discussed. The fundamental principles of tax law will be covered, along with re-assessment of taxes and the consequences of fraudulent filing. An overview will be given of the key principles of the laws on value added tax and the social insurance fee. Upon completion of the course a student shall be able to file tax returns for individuals and small businesses as well as appeal tax assessments that he/she deems incorrect.

This course focuses on tools for data analysis as basis for planning and decision support in the business environment. The course will introduce Databases, Data Warehouses, SQL Query Language. Introduction to Business Intelligence, application areas and its‘ role in planning and decision making. Introduction to data warehouse, business intelligence, artificial intelligence, data science and electronic trade. 

Focus is on practical examples with variouse tools, like Excel, Access, SQLite og Power BI.

Financial institutions are a pillar of civilized society, supporting people in their productive ventures and managing the economic risks they take on. The workings of these institutions are important to comprehend, if we are to predict their actions today and their evolution in the coming information age. The course strives to offer understanding of the theory of finance and its relation to the history, strengths and imperfections of such institutions as banking, insurance, securities, futures, and other derivatives markets, and the future of these institutions over the next century. The Icelandic Banking System collapse offers myriad of examples and cases that provide a fruitful ground for learning. A frequent reference will be made to those throughout the course.

This course is designed for students on the F- and R-line (finance and accounting). The purpose with the course is that the students obtains knowledge and understanding on matters that management of companies needs to have to prepare financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. In the course students, will learn about generally accepted accounting principles according to international accountings standards (IFRS) and icelandic GAAP. Among topics: Financial accounting and accounting standards, income statement, balance sheet and cash flow. Revenue recognition and cost accounting, inventories, accounts receivables, PPE, intangible assets, income tax, impairment test, accounting for financial instruments, liabilities and equity. Students will need to solve assignments during the course.

This course focuses on a holistic approach to project management. The content deals with planning, scheduling, organizing, and controlling projects--for example, product development, construction, information systems, new businesses, and special events. The course includes major topics of Strategy, Priorities, Organization, Project Tools, and Leadership. Primary class emphasis is on the project management process and tools. Project management is becoming increasingly more important in today's world. Mastery of key tools and concepts could give you a significant competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Please note, students must log in and purchase the book Project Management, The Managerial Process on the McGraw-Hill website. Further information can be found on the course's Canvas page.

In this course students will learn all about the main functions of HRM and HRM departments in companies, both from a theoretical and practical point of view. Students should gain understanding on the procedure of HRM within Icelandic companies as well as global. In this course students will analyse employment relations with a critical viewpoint.
Students should be prepared to work within HRM department after this course.

The aim of the course is to introduce to business students the field of industrial and employee relations and the main changes that have occurred in the labour market for the last decades. This course cover topics such as; theories of the labour market (unitary, conflict, social action, systems and Marxist theories), strike theories, corporatism, comparative European industrial relations, industrial democracy and employee involvement, institutionalisation of conflict, collective bargaining, role of trade unions, role of the state, role of employers association. Labor law, collective bargaining, strikes and strikes theories will be discussed. Finally main topics concerning employment relations will be discussed.

Definition of marketing research. Marketing research and science. Marketing research and decision making. Selection of research variables. Basic methods of collecting data. Secondary data. Bayesian analysis. The marketing research process. Construction of a questionnaire. Scaling. Attitude measurement. Sampling and its application to marketing problems. Data collection and the field force. Evaluation and research presentation. Experimentation.

The course focuses on the practical aspects of doing business in an international and multicultural environment; on understanding the main obstacles that executives in international business face, the challenges of managing a multicultural workforce, and how cultural diversity affects all aspects of business. The main goal of the course is to develop the skills and intercultural competence to overcome those obstacles. To develop the skills to understand and deal with different cultures, we study theories and concepts of culture. To gain further insights into cultural dimensions, values, customs, and practices, we profile different national cultures. To understand international and intercultural business, we study how culture impacts the main areas of communication, management, marketing and finance. To comprehend how corporate cultures and sub-cultures cut across national cultures, we study different industries or business sectors. To develop students' intercultural communication skills, the classes are very interactive and students work on projects in cross-cultural teams, give presentations and write reports. The course is taught in English.

The focus is on brand management and relationship marketing. The key methods of relationship marketing are discussed and their application outlined. The role of brands and brand equity is covered, as well as the development of a strong brand. Different methods for assessing brand equity are discussed in addition to how brand strategy can be applied to maximize brand equity. Students shall take active part in lectures, discussions and project work.

This course deals with the organisation of creative industries, which have been defined as "industries producing goods broadly associated with cultural artistic or entertainment values" (Caves, 2000). The aim is for the students to gain understanding of the peculiarities of creative industries, where parts of the 'industry' is dependent upon public support while other parts are profit oriented.

The course will be divided into lectures and discussion classes with visits from the creative industries in Iceland.

This course is for all students in the University and will be taught if there is enough participation.

Intermediate microeconomic theory. Basic factors of price theory, uncertainty, including analysis of demand, costs of production and supply relationships, and price and output determination under various market structures, market failures and public choice.

This course is divided in practical and theoretical lines.

The practical part will examina all major parts of excel with emphasis on financial calculations and data analysis. The course will introduce practical examples that will benfit students in other courses and at the workplace.

The theoretical part will provide overview over usage of computers in the workplace and some theoretical aspects of computer usage. It will look at aspects important in financing and operation of computer systems.

The student is expected to have a computer with practical knowledge of its operating system.

Introduction to management accounting. Most important cost terms will be presented and cost-volume-profit analysis. Different accounting systems around manufacturing costs and allocation of indirect costs. The difference between absorption costing and variable costing. Budgeting, standard costing and variance analysis. Performance evaluation of different departments and products and cost allocation. After this course the students should understand well the importance of management accounting for decision making in business.

The main objective of the course is to introduce the key concepts of service, i.e. the characteristics of service, specific issues related to service and how these issues affect services marketing and service solutions. The qualities and characteristics of service are discussed, the service triangle, the service gap, service consumer behavior, expectations and perceptions, as well as the importance of establishing a lasting relationship with customers. Furthermore, consideration is given to service design, standards and benchmarks, the service setting, the role of the customer in effective service implementation, the balance of service supply and demand, pricing, and considerations in the formulation of promotion strategy for service solutions. Upon completion of the course, students are expected to:

Have knowledge of the key concepts of service
Have knowledge and understanding of specific problems related to service
Have knowledge of the service triangle and service quality model
Be able to define the roles of customers and employees in effective service implementation
Have knowledge and understanding of concepts related to service design and service strategy
Be able to elaborate a simple promotion strategy for service solutions.

The main objective of the course is that the students gain knowledge and understanding of key management concepts, theories and  tools or methods connected  to the manager‘s job.  The focus is on the managerial work and the human  resource management and communication in the workplace. Various teaching and  learning methods are utilized.

Descriptive statistics, measures of location and variation. Frequency distributions. Probabilities, rules of probability, statistical expectation. Probability distributions. Sampling and sampling distributions. Inferences about means, standard deviations and proportions. Correlation. Linear regression. Exercises.

This course is a continuation of the introductory course. The main emphasis here is on the preparation of financial statement, fx. allowance for doubtful accounts, depreciation af property, plant and equipment, goodwill and other intangible assets, inventories valuation, fair value of securities and equities, deferred taxes etc. Preparation of cash-flow statement. In this context the Icelandic legal regulation of accounting and International Financial Accounting Standards (IFRS/IAS) are being dealt with. Calculation of income tax will be presented. Extensive exercises are covered in separate group sessions. After this course students should be capable of preparing financial statement for a comparatively simple company.

Good corporate governance and skilled financial management are the key ingredients for a successfully run corporation.  Finance II builds on the course Finance I, and has its main focus on the corporation and how it is being run from financial management point of view.  The course covers topics in corporate governance, how incentives are embedded in the operation of the firm and what economic and financial outcomes are to be expected from the incentive structure.  The main focus of the course is financial management; the firm’s capital structure, short and long term financing, capital budgeting, dividend policies, short term financial planning as well as financial distress.

Welcome to Operations Management!

Ever noticed how everything around us seems to somehow just work? That's what this course is all about – uncovering the fascinating world of processes in businesses and our daily lives. We'll explore how things get made, from the smallest gadget in your hand to the largest machines. It's not just about factories and assembly lines; we'll see how everything from your favourite coffee shop to the latest tech companies use processes to deliver what we love. We'll dive into how to design these processes, keep them running smoothly, and constantly improve them.

So get ready to look at the world around you in a whole new way, as a series of amazing processes making our lives better. Get ready to see the world like Operations Managers.

The objective of the course is to develop students' professional communication skills. The course aims to enhance their vocal qualities and connection with the audience. It aids them in becoming fluent and confident speakers, and effective and efficient writers, who know how to state a clear main idea and provide clear and structured substantiation for their claims. The course focuses on: projecting the voice, pronouncing clearly, breathing effectively, and relaxing the voice. Developing vocal quality and the relationship with the audience. Anxiety and ways to conquer it. Clear and organized structure. Communicating in meetings and small groups. Students give presentations throughout the course. Written assignments, such as CVs, proposals, and reports, focus on audience analysis, clarity, organization, and effective word choice. The course is taught in English.

The learning path starts with overall orientation and definitions. The focus at first is on challenges in the external environment and how organizational effectiveness can be assessed. Then the focus is on understanding and analysing the structure of organizations and on what should be in the picture when an organizational structure is designed. Influences and challenges related to organizational design and ethical and societal challenges are reviewed. Innovation, knowledge, information, and decision making in the context of organizational change are also covered. Then the impact of artificial intelligence on the structure and working methods of organizations will be discussed.

Diversity management is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon. In this course we will capture this complexity by bringing insights from sociology, psychology, international relations, history, management, business and organization studies. Studying international perspectives on diversity management provides a wealth of insight into how diversity may be managed under different national systems and institutions. This course is designed to equip you with an understanding of basic concepts and principles of diversity management which should assist you in interacting effectively and appropriately with people with various backgrounds and abilities. It will also help you understand how diversity interfaces with topics of current interest within business and management. The workplace is a strong situation that enables subtle prejudice and stereotypes to manifest. To develop effective strategies for diversity management, it is imperative for managers to develop theoretical and conceptual frameworks and skills that will enhance their understanding of the specific contexts and issues they wish to explore and change.

The focus of the course is on the methodology for developing marketing plans, from market analysis to action plans.  Methods for analyzing market position, for creating marketing strategy, and for the selection of marketing tactics are discussed.
Students develop marketing plans for goods or services, working in groups of four.  Students will contact an organization and develop a marketing plan in alliance with that specific organization.
The course format is a mix of lectures, discussions and project work.

The theory behind decisions of investors and corporations regarding building and managing asset and liability portfolios. Risk management of corporations will also be covered.

The course is taught in English

This course is a continuation of Financial Statements A, which is taught in the fall semester. It is expected that students of this course are fully familiar with the content of the course Financial Statements A.
The course will cover the principles in accounting under both IFRS and Icelandic law. Topics: cash flow, income tax, earnings per share, financial instruments, finance leases, assets held for sale and discontinued operations, investment properties, provision, information in the financial statements and related parties.
Assignments are part of the course, and students will need submit them.

Reserved the righttochangethecoursedescription.

The learning path is in line with the structure of the textbook, starts with overall orientation and definitions. Then the focus is on external and internal analysis in order to assess the strategic situation of companies. After that issues of strategy development are covered and that of strategy implementation. The class will use different teaching methods and the students are required to work on cases and examples of real companies.